2026 Subaru Impreza

Price Range: $26,595 - $29,495

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

What the 2026 Subaru Impreza lacks in excitement, it makes up for with convenience, comfort and capabilities in inclement weather. It's only adequately powerful, however, and its cabin favors durability over refinement. Overall, the Impreza should work out well if you're looking for sensible and practical small car.

17 Owner Reviews

Pros

Pro:Roomy seating and cargo area
Pro:Comes standard with all-wheel drive
Pro:Many standard or optional driver assist features
Pro:Smooth ride

Cons

Con:Lackluster acceleration with base engine
Con:Bland interior design

What’s new

No significant changes expected for 2026
Part of the sixth Impreza generation introduced for 2024

6 Colors
2 Trims
1 Package

Build & Price Subaru.com

2026 Subaru Impreza Review

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

7/23/2025

Are you thinking of getting back to the basics with your next car? Consider the 2026 Subaru Impreza. Though small, the Impreza is mighty in terms of practicality, if not personality. Available only as a hatchback, the Impreza offers standard all-wheel drive at a budget-friendly price. The body style supplies extra utility, while the all-wheel drive ensures you make it home no matter the weather.

Edmunds spotlight: Subaru Impreza vs. Subaru Crosstrek

Cars are no longer the stars in dealership showrooms. For 2026, the long-running Subaru Legacy has been canceled, and the smaller Impreza might be the next one headed for the shelves of history. The main reason for such speculation is that Subaru's own Impreza-based Crosstrek is potentially more appealing. For starters, it sits higher off the ground, giving it a remarkable 8.7 inches of ground clearance. That makes it easier to enter and exit, and it looks more like an SUV than a car. The 2026 Crosstrek also offers a new hybrid powertrain promising improved fuel economy. The Crosstrek, however, costs more than the Impreza.

Competitors to consider

Some people don't want to drive a crossover SUV. If you're of that mindset and want a small car with a handy hatchback and all-wheel drive, the 2026 Impreza is the only game in town at its price. One affordable alternative is the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, which doesn't offer all-wheel drive like the Subie. Others cost significantly more than the Impreza, such as the Honda Civic hatchback, Mazda 3 hatchback and Volkswagen Golf GTI. Of these, only the Mazda is available with AWD. In this automotive niche, the Impreza is synonymous with value.

Which Impreza trim does Edmunds recommend?

Subaru hasn't released official information on the 2026 Impreza as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Impreza, we make the unusual recommendation of going with the range-topping and sporty RS trim. We're not basing our pick on its looks or the few extra features, though they don't hurt. Instead, we suggest it for the more powerful engine.

Compare 2026 Subaru Impreza trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Subaru Impreza models

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Impreza. We expect the 2026 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Subaru Impreza hatchback is available in three trim levels: Base, Sport and RS. The first two come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. The RS gets a more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. Power from either engine flows through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the Impreza's standard all-wheel-drive system. Keep reading for a highlighted rundown of the Impreza's standard and optional features.

Base
The most affordable version of the Impreza comes with:

16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers
Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
Dual-zone automatic climate control
60/40-split fold-down rear seat
7-inch dual-touchscreen infotainment
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility
Four-speaker stereo

Every Impreza also comes with Subaru's EyeSight safety system. It includes:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Subaru and the car in front)
Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assistance (steers the Impreza back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

Sport
Adds to the Impreza with:

18-inch alloy wheels
Retuned suspension for more stable handling
Keyless access with push-button start
Premium cloth upholstery
Upgraded driver information display
11.6-inch center touchscreen (replaces the dual-screen setup)
Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Connected services (Subaru's Starlink)
Six-speaker stereo

The following option packages are available on the Sport trim:

All-Weather package

Heated front seats and exterior mirrors
Windshield wiper de-icer

Driver-Assist Technology package

Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)

Sunroof

RS
Comes with the above option packages as standard, plus:

More powerful engine
Dark gray-painted wheels
Wireless phone charging pad
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift handle

The optional package for the RS includes:

Sunroof
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Harman Kardon sound system

2025 Subaru Impreza

At a Glance:

6 Colors
2 Trims
1 Package
$24,360starting MSRP

Build & Price Subaru.com

MSRP is subject to change and varies based on availability, trim level, option packages, and retailer-installed accessories. MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title, registration, and other fees. Retailer sets actual price. See your retailer for details.

Subaru Impreza Owner Reviews

4.7

5(88%)

4(0%)

3(5%)

2(7%)

1(0%)

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Surpassed expectations, especially for the price.

TSporty, 09/24/2023

2024 Subaru Impreza RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Great riding, handling and comfortable car with a super stiff, solid chassis and large cargo area with the seats down. Plenty of power with a willing, smooth powertrain though it is not a Hot Hatch. First car with a CVT (other car is a WRX) and don’t even notice it, it just goes how you expect it to. We recently completed a 1,400 mile road trip, everything from L.A. traffic, desolate …

Great value!

MannyC, 11/01/2023

2024 Subaru Impreza 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

2024 base impreza. If what you need is transportation I don't see how you can wrong with this car. It feels smooth with good traction. The mileage is also very good. Sure you can get the RS model or heck, a luxury car if you want, but some of us just need good transportation. It has nice digital controls and safety features and I am actually surprised how nimble it feels. One thing …

A pleasure to drive

Me, 11/23/2023

2024 Subaru Impreza Sport 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I wanted a car that handled the road and a hatchback so I could throw in my camping/kayaking gear also. The Outback and Forester are just too big. I just wish there was hybrid version as the car is a gas hog but I don't drive that much anymore. The safety features are first-rate. I bought the RS as I wanted all the safety features. The RS is worth the extra money.

2024 Subaru Impreza RS

Subbie RS Driver, 06/30/2023

2024 Subaru Impreza RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Great car and fun to drive, great handling on curves and back roads. The RS trim comes fully loaded and is a very comfortable AWD car. The new design is a much sportier look for a hatchback. The fully loaded RS version is a great car one year in. I do want a new WRX Ts when it comes out though, that digital dash looks amazing! However, for now the loaded RS is great!

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2026 Subaru Impreza, so we've included reviews for other years of the Impreza since its last redesign.

2026 Subaru Impreza